Autumn 2012 Celebration of the season

                SOURCE  : www.boston.com 

The arrival of autumn brings falling leaves; vibrant and rich jewel-toned colors across the landscape; a distinct change in temperature; festivals and some celebrations. The world often marks the September event as special. Throughout history, the first day of autumn has been considered a good time to take stock of the year’s successes and failures. A myth in many cultures holds that some mystical forces let us stand eggs on their ends for a short time immediately before or after the exact time of the equinox. In Greek mythology, autumn begins when the goddess Persephone returns to the underworld to live with her kidnapper, Hades – in repayment of the six pomegranate seeds she illicitly ate. Here, a look at a diverse collection of autumn photographs. – Paula Nelson ( 

Two Adirondack chairs sit vacant on a dock along the misty shore of the Androscoggin River in Turner, Maine, Oct. 3, 2012, as the fall foliage nears peak color. (Amber Waterman/Sun Journal)

2 A Red Deer stag roars in the early morning light in Richmond Park, Oct. 10, 2012 in London, England. Autumn sees the start of the 'rutting' season where the large Red Deer stags can be heard roaring and barking in an attempt to attract females known as bucks. The larger males can also be seen clashing antlers with rival males. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)#

3  Ivan Scott of Ireland shears a sheep on a farm on the Dentenberg near Bern, Oct. 10, 2012. Scott visits Switzerland twice a year for about one month in spring and autumn to shear sheep on farms across Switzerland. (Pascal Lauener/Reuters)#

4  Competitors take part in the annual conker championships during the Hampstead Heath Heritage Festival, which is a celebration of old England, on Hampstead Heath, London, Oct. 7, 2012. Conkers is a traditional British children's game played in early autumn using the seeds of horse-chestnut trees with a piece of string threaded through them. Players take turns hitting their opponent's conker until one of the conkers is destroyed. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)#

5  Competitors take part in the annual conker championships during the Hampstead Heath Heritage Festival, which is a celebration of old England, Hampstead Heath, London, Oct. 7, 2012. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)#

6People play conkers after the annual conker championships, Hampstead Heath, London, Oct. 7, 2012. Conkers is a traditional British children's game played in early autumn using the seeds of horse-chestnut trees. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)#

7Conkers hang ready for competitors to take before the start of the annual conker championships. Players take turns hitting their opponent's conker until one of the conkers is destroyed. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)#

8 A man dressed as a polar bear speaks with another man during the autumn agriculture market in Minsk, Sept. 22, 2012. (Viktor Drachev/AFP/GettyImages)#

9People buy potatoes in an autumn agriculture market in Minsk, Sept. 22, 2012. (Viktor Drachev/AFP/GettyImages)#

10  A boy plays with autumn leaves on a parked car in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Oct. 6, 2012. (Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)#

11 A woman walks on a pavement covered with autumn leaves in central Minsk, Oct. 3, 2012. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)#

12 A leaf on a raindrop-covered car windscreen in Munich, southern Germany, Oct. 5, 2012. (Christof Stache/AFP/GettyImages)#

13 A sail boat on Lake Leman during a warm autumn day in Chexbres, Oct. 5, 2012. (Valentin Flauraud/Reuters)#

14 Little polar bear, Anori, plays with his mother, Vilma, on a cold and rainy autumn day at the zoo, Wuppertal, Germany, Sept. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)#

15 A woman enjoys a sunny autumn weather day at Lake Chiemsee near Seebruck, southern Germany, Oct. 8, 2012. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press)#

16 Autumn-colored trees in Schoenau at the Koenigssee Lake, near the southern German city of Berchtesgaden, Oct. 2, 2012. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)#

17 The "Seepyramide" (Lake Pyramid) reflects in a lake, Sept. 25, 2012 at the Fuerst-Pueckler-Park in Branitz near Cottbus, eastern Germany. Count Hermann Ludwig Heinrich von Pueckler-Muskau, a German nobleman who is known for his passion for landscape gardening, is buried in the interior of the pyramid. (Patrick Pleul/AFP/GettyImages)#

18 A colored maple leaf lays in the grass, Sept. 24, 2012 in a park in Frankfurt an der Oder, eastern Germany. (Patrick Pleul/AFP/GettyImages)#

19 A cow grazes in a meadow near Maierhoefen, southern Germany, Sept. 28, 2012. Autumn brought a mild and sunny day to Bavaria. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/AFP/GettyImages)#

20 Two swans swim on the river Spree in Berlin's Alt-Stralau district, Oct. 2, 2012. (Robert Schlesinger/AFP/GettyImages)#

21 Visitors walk past a colourful display of flowers and plants at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay as part of the Autumn harvest display, Singapore, Oct. 2012. The 850 square metre Flower Field with 18,000 blooms for the Autumn Harvest display, includes the blooms of Sunflowers, Marigolds, Lavenders, Heucheras, Calla Lilies, Tomatoes, Kales and Chrysanthemums. (Roslan Rahmanroslan/AFP/GettyImages)#

22 People wait for their trains during the first day of China's Mid-Autumn festival and National Day at Hongqiao train station, Shanghai, Oct. 1, 2012. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)#

23 A girl jumps off a luggage box inside a waiting room of a long-distance bus station ahead of a national-wide eight day break for celebrating China's Mid-Autumn festival and National Day, in Hefei, Anhui province, Sept. 29, 2012. (Reuters)#

24 Tourists gather on the Great Wall outside Beijing, Oct. 3, 2012. Major tourist destinations around China are witnessed travel peaks amid the eight-day Mid-autumn Festival and National Day holidays, Xinhua News Agency reported. (Reuters)#

25 Children sit on top of a police vehicle as they watch a fireworks display that is part of China's Mid-Autumn festival in Shanghai, Oct. 3, 2012. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)#

26  A restaurant worker cleans beneath lanterns hanging above a street in advance of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Beijing, Sept. 26, 2012. Traditionally recognized as a symbol of good luck, red lanterns are hung during the Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on the 15th day of the lunar new year. (Ed Jones/AFP/GettyImages)#

27  Visitors tour the illuminated decorations of small bulbs set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Hong Kong, Sept. 27, 2012. Like ancient Chinese poets, Hong Kong people appreciate the beauty of the full moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on Sept. 30 this year. (Kin Cheung/Associated Press)#

28 Visitors tour the illuminated decorations set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Sept. 27, 2012. (Kin Cheung/Associated Press)#

29 An airplane and the moon rise above the illuminated decorations set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Sept. 27, 2012. (Kin Cheung/Associated Press)#

30 Two school-boys play near large decorative lanterns at a Mid-Autumn Festival carnival in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2012. Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the lunar new year, this year- September 30, 2012, is traditionally a time when family and friends gather in the evening to celebrate, eat mooncakes and to appreciate the moon. (Aaron tam/AFP/GettyImages)#

31  A girl plugs her ears as she watches a fireworks display as part of China's Mid-Autumn festival, Shanghai Oct. 3, 2012. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)#

32  A couple lights up a lantern during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2012. (Kin Cheung/Associated Press)#

33  A fire dragon dance is performed at Hong Kong's Tai Hang district on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Sept. 29, 2012. The annual ritual began around 100 years ago as a bid to keep away bad luck when the former fishing village suffered from a plague, following a typhoon. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)#

34  Residents dressed as movie characters chat during festivities for Saint Michael the Archangel in the town of Zacualpan de Amilpas, on the outskirts of Cuernavaca, Sept. 30, 2012. According to local media, the community held a carnival in honor of their patron, Saint Michael the Archangel, to thank him for the autumn harvest. (Margarito Perez Retana/Reuters)#

35  Residents dressed as wrestlers stand outside a house during festivities for Saint Michael the Archangel in the town of Zacualpan de Amilpas, on the outskirts of Cuernavaca, Sept. 30, 2012. (Margarito Perez Retana/Reuters)#

36  A girl throws leaves in the air at the estate of Mariendaal in Arnhem, Sept. 30, 2012. (Robin Utrecht/AFP/GettyImages)#

37  A girl plays with her dog in a forest at the estate of Mariendaal in Arnhem, Sept. 30, 2012. (Robin Utrecht/AFP/GettyImages)#

38  A woman walks her dog past a carpet of mushrooms in a forest at the estate of Mariendaal, Arnhem, Sept. 30, 2012. (Robin Utrecht/AFP/GettyImages)#

39  A farmer parades his herd, Sept. 29, 2012 on his way to the Desalpe near Charmey. The Desalpe is an annual traditionnal Swiss festival marking the descent of cattle herds from their summer Alpine pastures to valleys at the beginning of autumn. (Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP/GettyImages)#

40  Dairy farmer, Gerard Bilan, holds a decoration he made to adorn one of his cows, Sept. 29, 2012 before joining the Desalpe near Charmey. The Desalpe is an annual traditionnal Swiss festival marking the descent of cattle herds from their summer Alpine pastures to valleys at the beginning of autumn. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/GettyImages)#

41  A calf and cow wait in a pasture, Sept. 29, 2012 before joining the Desalpe near Charmey. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/GettyImages)#

42  A boy watches cows parade, Sept. 29, 2012 during the Desalpe near Charmey. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/GettyImages)#

43  Nepalese watch celebrations on the third day of the week-long Indra Jatra festival in Katmandu, Nepal, Sept. 29, 2012. Indra Jatra festival, which is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists, marks the end of the monsoon season and beginning of autumn. (Niranjan Shrestha/Associated Press)#

44  A masked artist prepares to perform a traditional dance on the first day of the week-long Indra Jatra festival in Katmandu, Nepal, Sept. 27, 2012. Indra Jatra festival, which is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists, marks the end of the monsoon season and beginning of autumn. (Niranjan Shrestha/Associated Press)#

45  A mask lies on the floor before artists perform a traditional dance on the first day of the week-long Indra Jatra festival in Katmandu, Nepal, Sept. 27, 2012. (Niranjan Shrestha/Associated Press)#

46  Masked artists perform a traditional dance on the first day of the week-long Indra Jatra festival, Sept. 27, 2012. (Niranjan Shrestha/Associated Press)#

47  Miniature statues and toys made of rice dough by an artisan are displayed for sale at the mid-Autumn festival's toy market in downtown Hanoi, Sept. 25, 2012. (Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/GettyImages)#

48 Ladybugs (Coccinellidae) walk on the fruit during the harvest of Burgundy grapes in a vineyard of the Thueringer Weingut Bad Sulza near Sonnendorf, central Germany, Sept. 19, 2012. The harvest began with the start of autumn in the vineyards in the Saale-Unstrut area. The viticulture in the Saale-Unstrut-district has a tradition of more than 800 years. (Jens Meyer/Associated Press)#

49 Dancers talk backstage during autumn harvest celebrations and young wine preparations in traditional style in Aliman village, some 240km east of Bucharest, Sept. 28, 2012. (Radu Sigheti/Reuters)#

50  A woman is helped into a wooden tub filled with grapes to be squashed with their feet during autumn harvest celebrations and young wine preparations in Aliman village, some 240km east of Bucharest, Sept. 28, 2012. (Radu Sigheti/Reuters)#

51 People take shelter from the rain at a bus stop in Duesseldorf, western Germany, Sept. 24, 2012. Autumn brought rain and sinking temperatures to the region. (Martin Gerten/AFP/GettyImages)#

52 Artist Frank Grenier holds the crystal glass dish he has engraved with a recreation of the Bayeux Tapestry, Oct. 1, 2012 in Glastonbury, England. The Bayeaux Tapestry engraving - which took six months to engrave and depicts the 58 panels of the tapestry with English description of each major event - is the highlight of Glastonbury Abbey's autumn exhibition, Reflections On Glass at the Abbey. The exhibition is particularly timely as new research, led by the University of Reading, revealed earlier this year that finds at the Abbey provide the earliest archaeological evidence for Anglo-Saxon glass-making in Britain. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)#

53 The Krasnoyarsk hydro electric power station and dam is surrounded with colourful autumn foliage of the Siberian taiga, some 45 km (28 miles) south of the city of Krasnoyarsk, Sept. 22, 2012. The dam and power station on the Yenisei River, one of the world's largest hydro electric projects, was completed in 1972. (Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)#

54  As summer comes to an end, the color and beauty of autumn is visible in the colorful leaves that provide a backdrop for these bloom wildflowers in LaPorte, Indiana. as a light rain falls, Sept. 21, 2012. (Bob Wellinski/LaPorte Herald Argus)#

55 People eat under Chinese lanterns displayed at a restaurant as part of celebrations for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on Penang Island, Malaysia, Sept. 25, 2012. ( Gary Chuan/Associated Press)#

56 A European peacock butterfly (Inachis io) unfolds its wings in the sun on a blossom in a garden in Frankfurt an der Oder, eastern Germany, Sept. 20, 2012. Meteorologists forecast sinking temperatures for that week, that ended the astronomical beginning of autumn, Sept. 22, 2012. (Patrick Pleul/AFP/GettyImages)#

57 A duck swims during an autumn day in a pond in the Tsaritsino estate in southern Moscow, Russia, Sept. 19, 2012. (Mikhail Metzel/Associated Press)#

58  Ears of field corn lay in piles along a roadside during the autumn corn harvest on a farm on the edge of Kaesong, North Korea. It has been a tough year for North Korea's farmers, who grappled with an extended dry spell in the spring, followed by heavy rains from a series of summer storms and typhoon. The U.N. is launching a field mission across North Korea to gauge the state of the food situation. (David Guttenfelder/Associated Press)#

59  Visitors to the annual Harrogate Autumn Flower Show admire and discuss prize winning flowers, Sept. 14, 2012 in Harrogate, England. Garedeners from across Britain descend on the Yorkshire Showground every Autumn to show off their prized crops of vegetables, flowers and plants in the hope of a coveted award from the judges. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)#

60  Visitors to the annual Harrogate Autumn Flower Show admire and discuss prize winning flowers, Sept. 14, 2012 in Harrogate, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)#

61  Prized carrots are proudly displayed at the annual Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Sept. 14, 2012 in Harrogate, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)#

62  Giant vegetable grower, Peter Glazebrook, from Newark, poses with his world record-breaking onion that weighed in at 18 lbs 1oz, beating his previous world record by almost 2 ounces, at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Sept. 14, 2012 in Harrogate, England. Peter Glazebrook, from Newark, won all six classes in the giant vegetable competition during the show at The Great Yorkshire Showground. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)#

63  Visitors to the annual Harrogate Autumn Flower Show admire and discuss the giant vegetable class, Sept. 14, 2012 in Harrogate, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)#

64  Weightlifter Jonathan Walker, from Harrogate, poses as he lifts a marrow weighing 119 lbs 12 ounces, which won the Giant Marrow Class in the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Sept. 14, 2012 in Harrogate, England. The giant marrow was grown by Peter Glazebrook, from Newark, who won all six classes in the giant vegetable competition during the show at The Great Yorkshire Showground. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)#

65  Vegetable gardener, Peter Glazebrook, wheels his giant cabbage, which weighs 81 lbs and 6 ounces, through the annual Harrogate Autumn Flower Show grounds, Sept. 14, 2012 in Harrogate, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)#